Gate-latch.



' No. 660,226. Patented 0c`t. 23; |900.

L.'M. SMYTH.

GATE LATCH.

(Application led Dec. 2, 1899.) (No Ilqdel.)

f "T lll UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

LEWIS MILLER SMYTH, OF UVALDE, TEXAS.

GATE-LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 660,226, dated October 23, 1900. Application filed December 2, 1899. Serial No. 739.001. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS MILLER SMYTE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Uvalde, in the county of Uvalde and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gate-Latches, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to gate-latches; and it consists of a single piece of wire bent to form a double catch, the object of which is tol make a cheap, simple, and effective latch of this character.

In the drawings forminga part ofthis speciiication, Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of a gate and fence with my latch in position. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the catch delached Referring to the drawings by reference-numerals, l represents a fence-post of any construction.

2 is the end post of a gate, provided with a straight latch 3, rounded at 4. on its outer end.

5 is the catch,which comprisesa single piece of wire coiled at 6, thence bent at right angles, and thence bent downward at 7 again at right angles. The wire is then coiled, as at 8, three or more times, from which point it extends rearward in a straight line. From Fig. 2 it will be seen that the upper part of the latch is in different vertical plane from the coil 8 and that part of the catch beyond said coil. Both of the coils 8 are made on the inside of the catch and project toward each other. When constructed in this manuel', the completed latch is substantially U-shaped, with each leg provided wit-h an inwardlyextending coil the axis of which is at right angles to the leg and parallel with the axis of the other coil and the portionsof the leg upon opposite sides. of the coil being in two parallel planes, the plane of the outer portion being at a greater distance from the gate than that of the inner portion. The lower straight p0rtions of the catch are driven through the post l and clenched on the other side of the same against accidental withdrawal, as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be observed from the construction of my improved catch that any kind of latch may be used. Indeed the latch may, if desired, be made from a straight piece of wood.

When the gate is closed, the latch 3 strikes against one ofthe coils 8, which by reason of the resiliency of the Wire springs out the path of the latch and permits it to pass, and as soon as the latch has passed the coil springs back to its normal position in front of the latch, thereby locking the gate. The gate may be opened by grasping one of the portions 7 of the catch, thereby pulling the coil 8 out of the path of the latch, the'catch springing back into normal position. Should the gate settle any or sag, the latch would be locked by means of the lower coil 8.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a gate-latch,thecombination with a post,

of a gate movable toward and from the same, a catch in the post consisting of a substantially U-shaped piece of resilient material, the ends of which are passed through the post and secured, and each leg is provided with a coil, the axis of which is at right angles to the leg and parallel with the axis of the other coil, said coils being` at the same distance from the end and extending toward each other, the outer and inner portions of the leg being in parallel planes, the outer portion being farther from the gate than the inner portion, and a catch upon the gate in position to pass between the coils when the gate is closed said catch being of a greater Width than the normal distance between the coils with which it is adapted to engage.

l LEWIS MILLER SMYTH.

Witnesses:

W. F. BURKETT, GEORGE R. N UNN. 

